Housing for moving sign mechanism in gasoline dispensing pumps



1955 H. F. TAPP ET AL I 23 G 3 HOUSING FOR MOVING SIGN MECHANISM IN GASOLINE DISPENSING PUMPS Filed Oct. 24, 1952 3 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR H/mr f. Z'QPP n/w Cir/m ta ABM/ rown 1955 H. F. TAPP ET AL 2,720,333

HOUSING FOR MOVING SIGN MECHANISM .IN

GASOLINE DISPENSING PUMPS Filed Oct. 24, 1952 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Mimi INVENTOR Y (M MQ ATTOR YS Oct. 11, 1955 H. F. TAPP ET AL 2,720,333

HOUSING FOR MOVING SIGN MECHANISM IN GASOLINE DISPENSING PUMPS Filed Oct. 24, 1952 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR H4178) I! TAPP mm 6110mm; A .B/crromJ Won m United States Patent HOUSING FOR MOVING SIGN MECHANISM IN GASOLINE DISPENSING PUMPS Harry F. Tapp, Longmeadow, and Charles A. Bickford,

Holyoke, Mass., assignors to Gilbert & Barker Manufacturing Company, West Springfield, Mass., a corporation of Massachusetts Application October 24, 1952, Serial No. 316,634

1 Claim. (Cl. 220-4) This invention relates to improvements in the mounting and housing of moving sign mechanisms in gasoline measuring and dispensing pumps.

The invention is an improvement on that disclosed in Marchese Patent No. 2,520,847, granted August 29, 1950.

The invention has for an object the provision of a housing, in the nature of a canopy, mounted on a base which may be the top wall of the housing of a gasoline measuring and dispensing pump and enclosing between it and the top of the pump, a moving sign mechanism, together with improved means for enabling the housing to be more easily removed and more quickly replaced, whenever required, as for example, when changing the movable belt, which carries the advertising message.

Another object of the invention is the provision, in connection with a moving sign mechanism which is mounted on the top of a gasoline measuring and dispensing pump and which includes an endless moving sign belt surrounding the driving motor, pulleys and beltilluminating means; of a canopy housing the mechanism and having windowed side walls disposed closely adjacent the path of travel of the belt and means for compelling movement of the canopy in a true vertical path during the initial .part of any lifting movement thereof and during the latter part of any lowering movement thereof in order to avoid contact of the canopy with and injury to the movable belt.

Other objects and advantages will appear as the detailed description proceeds and will be pointed out in the appended claim.

The invention will be disclosed with reference to one illustrative example of it in the accompanying drawings, in which,

Figs. 1 and 2 are small-scale front and side elevational views, respectively, of a gasoline dispensing pump housing embodying the invention;

Fig. 3 is a sectional plan view taken on the line 33 of Fig. land drawn to a larger scale;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary sectional elevational view taken on the line 4-4 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary cross sectional view taken on the line 5-5 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on the line 6-6 of Fig. 3 showing one of the lamp conduits leading from the motor casing, the motor having been removed;

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary sectional elevational view taken on the line 7-7 of Fig. 3 but showing the canopy raised and properly positioned preparatory to being lowered to enclose the moving sign mechanism; and

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary cross sectional view, taken on the line 8-8 of Fig. 7, of the canopy and its guides.

Referring to these drawings; there is shown in Figs. 1 and 2 a well known form of gasoline measuring and dispensing pump. This pump includes, as a supporting framework for the liquid measuring and dispensing means, a substantially rectangular base 1; four angle iron columns 2, upstanding in parallel relation from, and

2,720,333 Patented Oct. 11, 1955 ICC located one near each corner of, the base 1 and an inner cap 3, which interconnects the four columns 2 and ties them together near their upper ends. The space within these several frame members is enclosed by two side panels 4 and 5, which are each suitably fixed to the adjacent pair of columns 2, and front and rear panels 6 and 7, respectively, which are suitably mounted for convenient removal. An outer cap or top wall 8 surmounts the structure described, having ends which overlap the upper edges of the side panels 4 and 5. This wall 3 forms the base of the housing of this invention and seated upon this base 8 is a canopy 9 which completes the housing and encloses a moving sign mechanism, to be later described. This moving sign may be observed through windows 10 provided in the front and rear walls 6 and 7, respectively, of the canopy 9.

The measuring and dispensing mechanism is usually contained, for the most part, inside the pump housing described. Such mechanism may be of any suitable form and is not shown herein, except for such parts as are visible from the exterior of the pump housing. The dispensing hose 11 extends outside the pump housing and has the usual valve-controlled nozzle 12 on its outlet end. The hose is disposed in a loop adjacent panel 4 with its nozzle 12 hung on a suitable support provided at the bottom of recess 13. A handle 14 is provided,

adjacent the nozzle support to control the starting and stopping of the dispensing pump. The register, which shows the cost and quantity of the liquid dispensed, has its dial located adjacent a window 15 in front panel 6 and a similar window is usually provided for the same purpose in rear panel 7. A visible discharge indicator is shown at 16 and a crank for resetting the register at 17. The construction of the dispensing pump may, for example, be as disclosed in the copending application of Alfred L. Gris, Serial No. 280,141, filed April 2, 1952, and owned by the assignee of this invention. Reference to said application is made for a more complete disclosure of the liquid measuring and dispensing mechanism, if such is necessary or desired.

Referring next to Figs. 4 and 5 the inner cap 3 is supported at its corners by the angle iron columns 2. This cap has an approximately flat top, disposed horizontally, and side and end flanges which depend from the top and are secured to the columns 2 by bolts 18. Beneath this cap 3 is a junction box 19 best shown in Fig. 4, which is secured to the cap by two screws 20, one of whichis shown in Fig. 4 and the other in Fig. 7. These screws pass through the cap and through tubular spacing sleeves 21 and thread into lugs on the sides of the junction box. The latter may have sockets 22 (Fig. 5) on opposite sides thereof to receive the lamps used to illuminate the dials of the register. It also has in its upper wall (Fig. 4) an interiorly-threaded opening into which is screwed the lower end of an adapter sleeve 23, having a cylindrical opening therethrough. The axis of this opening is located vertically and in the center of the pump housing. This adapter is utilized to connect with the casing which houses the motor and carries the lamps of the moving sign mechanism, as will later appear. The junction box 19 has a cover 24 secured thereto by screws 25 as shown in Fig. 7, and accessible through an opening 26 (Figs. 4, 5 and 7) in cap 3 which opening is large enough to enable the cover 24 to pass therethrough. The base 8 overlies cap 3 and is secured thereto by bolts 27. This base has therethrough an opening 28 which overlies opening 26 and is also large enough to permit passage of cover 24. The base 8 has a depression 29 (Figs. 4 and 7), which forms a seat to receive the flange 31 on the lower end of the canopy 9. The canopy is secured in position leak-tight on this seat by suitable quick-detachable means, as will later appear.

The moving sign mechanism, as shown in Fig. 3, is entirely supported from a flat and substantially rectangular steelplafe 32, which is fixed to and forms part of base 8 and is thick enough to provide a rigid support. This plate (Fig. 4) ismounted horizontally on top of the central portion of base 8 and within the area thereof that is covered by canopy 9. The plate 32 is clamped to the base 8 by four bolts 34 (Fig. 3), which also in this example pass through the inner cap 3 of the pump housing. Each bolt as shown in Fig. 4 passes through the plate 32, a spacer 33 located between the base 8 and plate, and through the cap 3 and base 8. The motor, which drives the moving sign, is contained within an explosion-proof casing consisting of a lower box-like part 35 and a cover 36, these parts being clamped together in suitable gas tight fashion by a plurality of screws 37 and 38 (Fig. 3). The screws 37 merely pass through cover 36 and thread into lugs on box 35 The screws 38, however, are used to clamp the motor casingv to the lower side of base plate 32 As indicated in Fig. 7, these screws 38 pass through plate 32, through spacer sleeves 39, through cover 36 and thread into the lugs on the box 35. The cover 36 (Fig. 4 has an arm 40 projecting centrally from one end thereof and containing a conduit 41, which communicates at one end with the interior of box 35 and its other end with the upper end of a sleeve 42. The latter is fixed to and depends from the lower face of arm 40 and is adapted to telescope into and closely fit the opening in the adapter sleeve 23. The motor case 35 also has two arms 43 (Figs. 3 and 6), located one on each side of arm 40 but at a lower level. Each arm 43 (Fig. 6) has a conduit 44 therein leading from box 35 to the base of an upstanding socket 45, which carries a lamp 46. Each conduit 44 carries a pair of wires 53 and 54. The two wires 53 together with a motor wire 55 are connected together and to a lead wire 119 by a connector 56. The two wires 54 together with a motor wire 57 are connected together and to a lead wire 120 by a connector 58. The wires 55 and 57 are suitably connected to the motor to be described, which is contained in case 35 but has been broken away in Fig. 6 to show the conduits and wires. The wires 119 and 120 pass through the described conduit 41 and sleeve 42, as best shown in Fig. 4.

The driving motor may be of any suitable type and in Fig. 4 there is indicated at 47 a 115 volt, alternatingcurrent motor of the shaded-pole type, which drives through suitable speed-reducing gearing, indicated at 48, a hollow upstanding sleeve 49. These parts are mounted on a plate 50, which is secured by screws 51 and spacers 52 to the underside of cover 36. The cover 36 has upstanding therefrom a frusto-conicalpart 59, containing self-lubricating bearings 60 for a tubular shaft 61, the upper end of which projects above part 59 and extends into the upper end of a flanged driving pulley 62, the latter being recessed to receive a portion of part 59. The lower end of shaft 61 extends into the sleeve 49 and the two are interconnected by a cotter pin 63, whereby the parts 49 and 61 are flexibly coupled. It is necessary, in order to secure an explosion-proof enclosure for motor 47, that the member 59 and that portion of shaft 61 which is engaged therewith be relatively long to prevent the passage of flame between these engaged parts. To avoid adding to the vertical height of the canopy 9, the part 59 is for the most part telescoped within the driving pulley 62. In shaft 61, near the lower end thereof, is a cylinder 64 of suitable absorbent material, through which oil, placed in the shaft through its open upper end, must filter in order to reach and lubricate the motor parts. The base plate 32 (Fig. 3) has an opening 65 therethrough to receive the cover 36 and arm 40 and the lamps 46. I

The moving sign consists of a cloth belt 66 (Figs. 3 and 4) carrying in any suitable way the desired advertising message. For example, the belt may be perforated, as indicated in part at 58 in Fig. 4, to form the letters that spell out the message. This belt, as best .shown in Fig. 3,

is trained around four idler rolls 67, which are flanged like roll 62 and which are located one at each corner of plate 32; a flanged tensioning roll 68 and the described driving roll 62. Each idler roll 67 (Fig. 4) has upper and lower self-lubricating bearings 69 rotatable on a shaft 70, integral with and upstanding from the head 71 of a stud 72 which passes through plate 32 and has on its lower end a nut 73 that clamps the lower face of head 71 against the top of plate 32'. A hairpin cotter 74, engaged in a circumferential groove in the upper end of shaft 70, retains the pulley 67 against upward displacement, the lower face of the pulley resting on the upper face of the head 71. The tension roll 68 has similar bearings mounted on a shaft 75, fixed at its lower end in and: upstanding from the outer end of an arm 76, which has fixed to and depending from its other end a fulcrum pin 77. Fixed in plate 32, is a bushing 78 having fixed therein upper and lower self-lubricating bearings 79, which rotatably receive the fulcrum pin. The hub of arm 76 rests on the upper end face of the upper bearing 78. The roll 68 has its lower face resting on top of arm 76 and a hairpin cotter 80 on the upper end of shaft 75 retains the roll against upward displacement. A spring 81 (Fig. 3),

secured at one end to the outer end of arm 76 and at theother to plate 32 moves the roll 68 to tension belt 66.

The belt 66 (Fig. 3) in each of its two longer stretches of travel, moves in back of and closely adjacent to a window 10. Paralleling each such window but located on the opposite side of the belt is a rectangular piece of white frosted glass 82, which diffuses the light from the adjacent lamp 46 over that section of the belt that lies in back. of the window. The lower edge of each diffusing glass 82 rests on a metal strip 83, which has two upstandingv lugs 84 engaging the outer face of the glass, one near each end thereof. Each strip 83 is secured to plate 32 by two screws 85 and also by the previously described mounting screws 34 for the plate 32 which screws 34 also pass through the strip. Each glass 82 is held against its two lugs 84 by pressure from the ends of a reflector 86 for.

the adjacent lamp 46. Each reflector consists of a flat strip of metal bent into approximately a parabolic curve and secured to plate 32 by screws 87.

Each window 10 consists of a rectangular piece of glass encompassed by a gasket 88 and set into a metal frame 89 (see also Fig. 5). The ends of each such frame have fixed thereto brackets 90 (Fig. 3), perforated to receive studs 91 fixed to canopy 9. Nuts 92 on the studs serve to draw frame 89 toward the canopy and compress the gasket 88 against the marginal portions of the wall sur rounding the window opening.

The junction box 19 (Fig. 4) is connected to a conduit 93, through which a pair of power wires such as 94, extend to supply the dial lamps, the driving motor 47 for the moving sign and the sign-illuminating lamps 46. The cover 24 of this junction box has fixed thereto a switch 95 for controlling the circuit, which includes the motor and the lamps 46 and which is supplied by wires 94. This switch is of the toggle type, having an actuating lever 96, the upper end of which is encompassed by a piece 97 of inverted-U form fixed on the inner end of a horizontal rod 98, slidably mounted in cover 24. The outer end of rod 98 is connected to the upper end of a lever 99, which is pivoted intermediate its ends at to a side wall of the box 19. The lower end of lever 99 is connected to a horizontal rod 101, which extends outside the pump housing through wall 5 (Fig. 1) for convenient manual actuation. By pulling out rod 101, the switch 95 will be closed to start the motor and drive the sign belt 66 and at the same time close a circuit to the lamps 46, which illuminate belt 66 through the diffusing glass 82.

The junction box 19 will usually contain another switch (not shown), which is similar to that described and is similarly actuated for controlling the dial lamps (not shown) that may be mounted in the sockets 22.

Referring back to the canopy 9, which as above described has a flange 31 resting on a seat 29 formed on the base 8, the meansfor holding the canopy to this base will now be described with reference to Figs. 3 and 4. Mounted for horizontal sliding movement in each end wall of the canopy is a pin 102. A button 103 is fixed to one end of each pin and is located outside the canopy. Each pin 102 has a circumferential groove 104 therein in which is received the forked lower end of a leaf spring 105. The upper end of each such spring is suitably fixed to the canopy as indicated. Each spring 105 presses its pin 102 inwardly and yieldinglyholds the button 103 against the outer face of an end wall of the canopy and the inner and rounded end of the pin engaged latch-like in a hole in a latch plate 108. Each plate 108 is fixed by bolts 109 to and upstands vertically from the short downturned end of a plate 110 which is clamped to the under side of plate 32 by screws 111, the latter passing through a slot (Fig. 3) in the plate 32 and threading into plate 110. Each plate 110 and its attached vertical latch plate 108 is thereforeadjustable toward or away from the adjacent end wall of the canopy. The hole in each upstanding plate 108 preferably has a vertical dimension (Fig. 4) just slightly larger than the diameter of the inner end of the stud, that is engaged therein, and a horizontal dimension which is somewhat greater (see Fig. 3) in order to allow latitude for some lateral movement of the canopy. The upper end of each latch plate 108 (Fig. 4) is bent to form a cam surface 112, which diverges upwardly with respect to the adjacent end wall of the canopy. Each cam is adapted to be engaged by the rounded inner end of its latch pin 102 during the latter part of the downward movement of the canopy 9 as the latter is lowered into position to enclose the moving sign mechanism, whereby the inner end of each latch pin 102 will be forced inwardly as the canopy is lowered. When the canopy is finally engaged with its seat the springs 105 will press the latch pins 102 inwardly into the holes in their respective latch plates 108, thereby locking the canopy in place. The canopy is easily released, when it is desired to remove the same, by manually pulling outwardly in opposite direction on the buttons 103.

There are also provided means for guiding the canopy 9 while it is being raised from or lowered upon its base 8 so that it will not engage and injure the moving sign belt 66, which as shown in Fig. 5 travels closely adjacent each of the windows 10. Such guiding means include tongue-like guides 113 (Figs. 4 and 7), which are fixed one to each end of plate 32 and project vertically up- 'wardly therefrom and which each have parallel sides, and two guides 114, which are fixed to the inner face of each end wall of the canopy 9, and are spaced (Figs. 3 and 8) to form a groove to slidably receive between them the adjacent guide 113. As shown, each guide 113 consists of one leg of an angle iron, the other leg of which is suitably fixed near its lower end (Fig. 7) to a plate 115. Each plate 115 is clamped to the under side of plate 32 by means of two screws 116, which pass through a slot (Fig. 3) in plate 32, and thread into plate 115. Each plate 115 is therefore adjustable so that each guide 113 can be moved toward or away from the adjacent end wall of canopy 9 as required. Each guide 114 has an outturned flange 117 (Fig. 8) which is fixed, as indicated, to an end wall of canopy 9. The guides 114 at their lower ends have extensions 118, which are turned right-angularly in opposite directions. These horizontal parts 118 are adapted to engage the upper ends of the adjacent guide 113 and hold the canopy elevated sufficiently so as to prevent canopy 9 from engaging the upper edge of belt 66 as indicated by dotted lines in Fig. 8. The canopy cannot be lowered until it is properly located in which event the grooves between each pair of guides 114 will align with the adjacent guide 113, as shown by full lines in Fig. 8. It is assumed that in putting the canopy in place it will readily be centered laterally closely enough to lie within the range of the pairs of extensions 118 and, when this is done, the canopy will be prevented from moving downwardly until it is exactly centered laterally. And the extensions 118 may, of course, be made longer if necessary or desired. So also, if the canopy is approximately centered longitudinally its curved lower ends will coact with the curved upper ends of the fixed guides 113 and cam the canopy to the right or left, as required, until it is properly located to slide downwardly and clear the moving sign belt. The guiding means described is important in that it tends to prevent injury to the moving sign belt during the removal and replacement of the canopy.

All parts of the moving sign mechanism are first assembled on the base plate 32, thus providing one complete unit to be mounted on the frame of the pump housing. Before applying this unit to such frame, the cover 24 of the junction box 19, together with attached switch 95, is removed. Then the plate 32 is turned at right angles to the position which it will finally occupy, and then lowered into place. The wires 119 and 120 which project from sleeve 42, will first be thrust through adapter 23 into the junction box 19, and then the sleeve 42 will be slipped into the hole in the adapter 23 and lowered into the position illustrated. By turning plate 32 as described, the openings through the base 8 and inner cap are partially uncovered, leaving room for a workman to insert his hands to manipulate the wires as described and engage the sleeve 42 in the adapter 23. After the plate 32 has been completely lowered and while it still is turned at right angles, the electrical connections are made in the junction box 19. One of the wires, as 119, is connected by a connector 121 to one of the power wires 94 and the wire 120, together with the other power wire 94, are connected one to each terminal of switch 95. The cover 24 is then replaced on box 19 and fastened after which the switch rod 98 is connected to lever 99. The plate 32 will then be turned on pin 42 as a pivot through an angle of back into the illustrated position and secured to base 8 and cap 3, with the spacers 33 interposed between, by means of the mounting bolts 34. All that then remains to do is to apply the canopy 9. The latter, while held in raised position with the lower edges of its vertical walls held well above the upper edge of the belt 66, is moved until it is approximately centered both laterally and longitudinally and then it is lowered, until one or the other of each pair of parts 118 abut the top of the adjacent fixed guide 113. Then, the canopy is moved until the groove between each pair of guides 114 aligns with the adjacent fixed tongue-like guide 113, whereupon the canopy will be positioned with exactness and slide downwardly onto its seat on the base 8 without engaging the moving sign belt 66. Then, as the canopy 9 moves into engagement with its seat, the ends 107 of the latch pins 102 ride into the openings in latch plates 108 and lock the canopy in position.

In apparatus of this kind it is expected that the belts, which bear the advertising messages, will be frequently changed. It is therefore desirable to provide for quick and convenient access to the moving sign mechanism. This is had simply by removing the canopy 9 and this may be done quickly and easily by pulling outwardly on both knobs 103 and then lifting the canopy. The belt 66 will be easily accessible from above together with the lamps 46 and the reflectors 86 used for illumihating the sign.

What is claimed is:

In a housing, a flat base having four sides, a domelike canopy supported from the base and adapted to be raised from and lowered to the base to open and close the housing, said canopy having four upright side walls and a top wall interconnecting its side walls, and means for locating the canopy with its four sides in a predetermined relationship with the four sides of said base and for guiding the canopy while being raised and lowered 7 to, maintain said relationship of the sides,v said means comprising. two first guide members located one. near each of two opposite sides of the base, each: first guide member being fixed at its lower end to thebase and extending upwardly therefrom. at right angles terminating with. an upper and. leading end= spaced above said base by a distance substantially equal to the height of the:

side walls of the canopy, two second guide members fixed inupright and: parallel relation one to each of two opposed sidewalls ofi the canopy and extending, inwardly therefrom, the upper end of each second guide member being spaced from its lower and leading-end by a distance substantially equal to the height of the side walls.

of. the canopy, each first guide member being; slidably engaged with a second guide member, one of each pair of engaged members: being. a tongue having flat parallel sides and an end wall connecting such sides, the other of each pair of engaged members having a groove with flat parallel: sides engaged by the sides of the tongue and an end wallconnecting its sides and engaged by the end wall of the tongue, said interengaged guide members holding the canopy against lateral and longitudinal displacement for maintaining the predetermined relationship of the sides of the canopy with the sides of the base while the canopy is raised from or lowered to the base, the leading end of one guide member of each pair References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS- 899,103 Ditson Sept. 22, 1908 1,807,911 Garbell June 2, 1931 2,083,259 Ginter June 8, 1937 2,298,990 Utne Oct. 13, 1942 2,327,270 Johnson Aug. 17, 1943 2,420,184 Mekelburg May 6, 1947 2,513,894 Rogers July 4, 1950 2,620,940 Ginter Dec. 9, 1952. 

